Mother's Day Talk

Here are some excerpts from my Mother's Day talk today at church. I put a lot of my feelings on
Mother's Day into this so I thought it would be good to share here too. So many women hate Mothers Day and I'm sorry but I just don't get it...not everyone IS a mom but everyone HAS one. I guess if you hate your mom that's one thing but surely SOMEONE has mothered you in one way or another...celebrate them! If you're not a mom yet but really want to be it could be a sad reminder, or you could look for the positive, celebrate your own mom, and know that Heavenly Father has a plan for everyone (Easy for me to say right? Let's save that for another post...). Anyway here are the exerpts:

• Not all women ‘mother’ in the same way. Some give birth, some adopt, some care for others, some nurture in other ways (gardening, decorating, making a home a happy place), some volunteer/mentor, or teach. President Boyd K. Packer said, “When I speak of mothers, I speak not only of those women who have borne children, but also of those who have fostered children born to others, and of the many women who, without children of their own, have mothered the children of others.” (Mothers 1977). No matter our situation- we must remember that we as women all possess the divine qualities necessary to mother in some way or another, and we should honor our HF and mother Eve by appreciating and developing these qualities in order to better our homes and communities. “ If you are a mother, you participate with God in His work of creation—not only by providing physical bodies for your children but also by teaching and nurturing them. If you are not a mother now, the creative talents you develop will prepare you for that day, in this life or the next.” Uchtdorf oct 2008 general RS meeting.
• Along with teaching the gospel, we must teach our children of their great worth. Make them feel special & loved. Many problems in this world could be avoided if only we all knew this important information. So many people are lost, without purpose or a sense of individual worth that they are desperate to try anything to feel fulfilled, or at another extreme, become apathetic to the world and as a result become destructive to themselves and others. I’m grateful for a mother & father who taught me my great worth, and for the atonement and teachings of the gospel that taught me to see the worth in others as well.

• Another quote from President Uchtdorf, I think it’s something all women should hear today, “My dear sisters …As spirit daughters of our Heavenly Father, happiness is your heritage. You are choice daughters of our Heavenly Father, and through the things you create and by your compassionate service, you are a great power for good. You will make the world a better place. Lift up your chin; walk tall. God loves you. We love and admire you.”